The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-01-26
4 TALK ABOUT INDIANS.
AN INTERVIEW WITH COL. ARTHUR
GRABOUSKI.

GkABOCShl.
} The Indians and their Future--Interesting
, Facts Concernin, their Education and
their Progress.
(From the Augusta Chronicle.)
Colonel Arthur Grabouski was in Au-
gllsta yesterday and, the Chronicle re-
porter failing to catch him on the wing,
drove out to the stately mansion Of Mrs.
James Gardiner. The reporter was
ushered into the parlors at the hospitable
mansion, but was not allowed to remain
there but few seconds before he was
ushered into the sitting room, where
Colonel GrabousE was seated before
comfortable fire.
The Colonel has a distinguished as
well as a classical appearance. and the
cordial greeting extended the Chronicle
representative, when he informed the
Colonel of his mission, Immediately
stamped him as man of excellent judg-
ment. He was willing to give the people
any information that he might possess
that would be of interest to them. The
reporter thereupon said:
':Colonel, knowing that you had some
trouble in Kansas and that charges were
made against you, will you kindly tell
me about it and also something about
the Indians?'
'The difficulty Lad was simply the
objection of the people of Kansas to an
outsider taking charge of what they con-
slider home institution. In addition
thereto there is considerable feeling still
existing there in regard to the war.
These charges against me were so con-
tinual that three or four times the de-
partment sent investigation committees
all of whom were perfectly satisfied that
there was no cruelty, and that everything
was managed satisfactorily"
''Has the feeling died out?"
cit was only amongst few and has
entirely died out. AS an evidence Of
which there was rendered on my leaving
joint banquet with Governor Charles
Robinson, given by at least one hundred
and fifty of the leading citizens, at which
banquet I received handsome souvenir.
Whilst greatly interested in the work Of
educating the Indians the duties were
exceedingly onerous, and having an ap-
pointment offered in the Department Of
the Bureau of Labors-the distributing
of products which would make my field
of labor in Georgia, Alabama, Missis-
sippi and louisiana accepted it.
TIE WORK AMONG THE INDIANS.
''The people would like to know some
thing of your work among the Indanss
Will you kindly enighten them?"
''Haskell Institute is one of the United
States Indian industrial schools, having
during my administration three hundred
pupils, one-thrd of whom were females,
ranging in age from - to 80 years, re-
siding at the institution provided with
everything by the government. The
object Of the Institution is to let indus
trial training go hand in hand with the
English language and the fundamental
principles of an education. Among the
trades taught are blacksmithing, carpen-
tering, shoemalling, farming, tailoring,
etc"
GLOW do they take to education?"
s'They are intelligent when aroused,
and they make remarkable progress in
the English language. They make them
selves understood and their shop work
is of value in short time"
CATER being in the institution any
length Of time do they retain their
treacherous Dature?"
''Their nature is suspicious, not treach-
erous. After they give confidence and
obedience for once it is for good. I do
not recollect single instance IN which
man or woman went back on promise
given the superintendent"
ssWhat do you consider the main lever
in the education of the Indians?"
"Undoubtedly the effect of Christiani-
ty upon the morals and lives Of there
people. This opinion is shared IN both
BY the President and the Secretary Of
the Interior"
"What becomes of these Indians after
finishing their education?"
ssSome Of them return to their people
and become instructors In what are called
agency schools, others become govern
ment employees at agencies. The malor1-
tv. however, form what is known as the
new Indian element, they are the freight
ers and small farmers of the agencies,
and are the ones who are now asking a
distribution Of Indian lands in seyeralty."
"Have you ever visited the Indian
agencies?"
II have visited a number of them, met
the chief men in council and went In a
number of their camps from tent to
tent"
:sHaving been among them, what is
your opinion upon the solution Of this
troublesome problem?"
''The middle aged Indian, man or
woman, will have to pass to their grave
but little improved, as they seem unsus-
ceptible of improving. The hope Of the
Indian race lies in those under twenty
five years OF age. Instances are not un-
common where older Indians take steps
toward civilization in breaking grounds
for farms, but these are exceptions.
Recognizing this the Government directs
its attention to the young men and
women of the different tribes, and will
undoubtedly solve the question by the
gradual extinction OF the old Indian and
the budding citizenship OF the young
Indians"
St Pa111 vounr mar, Was S1lrDISed